by Fr. Peter Richard Kenrick
“This is an admirable Vessel,
the work of the Most High.”—Ecclesiastes xliii. 2
This praise is given by the inspired writer to that glorious
luminary, the sun, from which this world derives life and light, by which the
fruits of the earth are matured, and the earth itself made to assume a variety
of beautiful colours. We may apply to Mary the same words of praise, but in a
much more elevated sense. She is that most pure vessel in which the second
person of the blessed Trinity became incarnate, and who, in Mary, that is the
nature he assumed of Mary, is the sun of justice which enlighteneth every man
that cometh into the world. His grace is so necessary for us, that unless it
develop and mature the seeds of goodness implanted in our hearts, we can never
hope to bring forth fruit. He alone is able to produce this effect; and without
his divine assistance, our efforts are vain, according to that of the apostle: “I have planted,
Appollo watered, but God gave the increase.” (1
Cor. iii. 6.)
Mary is also styled a vessel of singular devotion, on account of
the faithfulness and fervor with which she discharged her devotional exercise
of prayer and contemplation. If her divine Son spent whole nights in prayer, we
may be satisfied that Mary did not cease to profit by an example which so many
motives induced her to imitate. In fact, her whole life was principally
occupied in this sacred duty. While in the temple, in which she remained from
an early age, she profited by all the opportunities she there had to commune
with God by prayer. What was her life after she had conceived the Son of God,
but a constant exercise of this holy duty; for what is prayer but the union of
the soul with God; and surely Mary failed not to profit by the extraordinary
opportunities she possessed of enjoying so high and holy a privilege.
While celebrating the perfect piety of Mary, we should endeavour
to profit by the example she has given to us. The child naturally imitates the
mother. We are Mary's children: because she is the mother of the first-born
among many brethren, and because Jesus Christ has commended us to her in the
person of St. John. “Woman, behold thy
son.” (St. John, xix. 26.) We
are then bound to imitate her; and had we for her the affection of children, we
would blush not to resemble her in our actions. What are then our feelings with
regard to the holy duty of prayer? Perhaps we find it an irksome obligation,
rather than a delightful duty. Under the influence of this feeling, have we not
occasionally neglected it, or discharged it in a hurried and careless manner?
Why do we not find in prayer the consolations which the saints experienced? We
are astonished, when we read that they spent whole days and nights in prayer.
Ah! We have not yet learned to pray as the saints prayed; we have not learned
to forget the world or ourselves when we appear before God; or to concentrate
our thoughts on His divine perfections and inconceivable mercies. Hence we too
often find in prayer that aridity and distraction which are the result of a
distracted head and a divided heart. With the apostles, let us ask our Lord to
teach us to pray; and employ the powerful intercession of Mary, to obtain for
us this golden key, by which we may unlock the treasury of God’s mercy.
EXAMPLE
It is not easy to read without
emotion the narrative of the last moments of a young person, who, during the
short time she lived on earth, distinguished herself by extraordinary devotion
to the Queen of Virgins, whose virtues she endeavoured to imitate. This
innocent creature remained in an asylum, consecrated to the mother of God, till
her eighteenth year. Very different from those of her age, she looked forward
with trembling anxiety to the period which was to restore her to her parents.
She often cast herself at the feet of Mary, and besought her to procure for her
a happy death, rather than permit her to be exposed to the dangers of the
world, if her innocence would suffer by its contagious influence. So touching a
prayer could not but be heard. The pious Amelia soon perceived that she was
suffering from a malady which gradually undermined her constitution, and
brought her, in a short time, to the verge of the grave. Tranquillity and
resignation were the only sentiments she manifested. Filial love for her God
had banished all terror. “I fear nothing,” she exclaimed, in one of her devout
aspirations to Mary, “I fear nothing:
under the protection of so powerful an advocate, what have I to fear from my
Saviour?”
The spirit of continual prayer was her only
support in her extreme sufferings. “I suffer no pain,” she would say, “when I converse with
Jesus:—leave me with Jesus.” Every
word that escaped her lips was carefully noted, especially as her end drew
nigh. She frequently exclaimed, in a firm voice: “Mary, show thyself
to be a mother. During life thou hast ever been such to me. Do not abandon me
in this decisive hour. Jesus, Mary, Joseph!” Taking from the hands of one of her
companions a picture of the Blessed Virgin, she reverently kissed it, and
placed it on her breast. She then asked for the image of her crucified Saviour,
and approaching it to her pale lips, she said: “O My God, I adore thee,” and expired.
PRAYER
O most holy Virgin, thou art
justly called a spiritual and honourable vessel; because the Lord thy God enriched
thee with the choicest gifts of the Holy Ghost. Thy thoughts were always great
and noble; thy feelings holy; thy designs pure and sublime. Thou hadst no other
ambition than to honour God, no other desire than to love Him, no other wish
than to possess Him. The choicest gifts of nature, of grace, and glory, were
imparted to thee without measure; whereas, I am nothing else than a vessel of
sin and misery. Most pure Mother! Have compassion on me; reconcile me with thy
Son; commend me, and present me to Him, that, through thy intercession, I may
be made partaker of His infinite merits, and never more seek any thing but what
is divine and everlasting. Amen.
PRACTICE
Resolve to dedicate, each
morning, all the actions of the day to the greater honour and glory of God.
Offer them through Mary to her Son.
ASPIRATION
“By thee we have access to thy
Son, O Mother of our salvation. May He who was given to us by thee, receive us
through thy intercession.” —St. Bernard
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